need some advice- what should I do?

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Hello all,

I am a junior and a psychology major at Central Michigan University. So far I am one semester "behind" schedule to graduate with a B.S. in psychology. In the last year I decided that I wanted to pursue nursing, with the end goal of working as a pediatric or neonatal NP. I am interested in psychology, and if I continued to persue psychology I would probably get a Ph.D. in psychology and become a clinical psychologist, or maybe a social work degree and become a counselor or case worker.

I am torn, because if I want to do nursing I have to do a one year nursing bridge and that is somewhat complicated and accelerated; probably pretty difficult. I'm not great at math, either. Still, I feel that I don't want to work in mental health because I have bipolar II disorder and I've experienced a lot of that mental health field... and I just don't feel like that is the area of health care I really should be in. I do think I would be a good therapist or social service employee, but I feel that job would wear me down because of the intense, psychological nature of that line of work. I feel like as a nurse, your job is very difficult but it is also more clear cut; medicine is more straightforward than behavioral health.

Please give me some advice about this topic...I do not deal with extreme stress all that well but I do deal with some stress well. I like working with people and I would consider myself very caring person. I am also generally very patient and I enjoy caring for people- both of which fit into psychological work and nursing! I'm just so torn- and I've been in this dilemma for like,a year.

What should I do with my life?!

:eek:

future L&Dnurse

263 Posts

I'm not good at math either, but I can "get it" if I push myself hard enough. I originally started out in elementary ed, and decided after having a baby that I wanted to be a nurse. I think the best thing for you to do is to go talk to one of the advisors in the nursing department at your university. They should be able to sit down with you and go over the degree requirements, analyze what you've already got and what you'd still need. That way you would have a better idea of what it might take to change your degree. I am technically in the 1st semester of my 5th year of college, but I'm only in my 1st semester of Junior year in the nursing program because a lot of my credits didn't transfer. BUT, if it's what you want to do I think it's worth it. I switched because I just couldn't imagine being satisfied with elementary ed for my whole life, after considering nursing instead. It is very hard at times and it can be very high stress, but if it's what you want to do it's worth it, IMO.

cherokeesummer

739 Posts

Specializes in OBGYN, Neonatal.

Kudo's for thinking about it now b/c I didn't! I did my BA in Psych and then worked on my MS in Psych got all the way to the final issue, the thesis and decided to become a nurse. What in the world?! LOL!

So I'm almost done with my RN diploma program, will hopefully bridge to bsn/msn and then NP in Neonatology or OB/GYN. I do LOVE psych, but I found that it just wasn't a career option that had a wealth of opportunities like nursing does. And I spent 10 years in HR and didn't get anywhere. Just not for me.

I say do what you really want to do. If you really want to be a nurse, then go for it, it can be done and then you can specialize in whatever field you may want.

allthingsbright

1,569 Posts

Specializes in LDRP.

I left my 3 years towards a Psyche degree as a junior and returned to school later to work on my ADN in nursing. I havent regretted leaving psyche "behind" one bit and find my background to be very useful in nursing.

Plus, I absolutely HATED my psyche rotation in nursing school--made me so thankful I didn't persue clinical psyche as I once wanted to.

Good luck w/ whatever you decide! Personally, I think there are so many MORE options w/ nursing that I would say go for it!!!

caliotter3

38,333 Posts

A relative went into psych/counseling education-wise when she couldn't get accepted to nrsg school. Know 2 others in that field too who decided to go into nrsg b/c of too much competition in psych field. There is an adolescent psych facility in my area that hires people who do not even have a psych background. Have seen the salaries! If you want to try nrsg, then do so. You won't be any worse off than having gone so far in psych and finding out that you don't have a lot of opportunities or interest. Good luck.

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